It’s been some time since I’ve sat down to write here. I feel compelled to communicate my disappointment in Torontonians today. A select few of us participated in a peaceful anti seal hunt demonstration this afternoon at the corner of University and College in Toronto. A very busy corner swarming with U of T students, business people, medical staff for the nearby hospitals…For the most part we were met with indifference, avoidance, lowered heads, comments of ‘no, not interested’, ‘no, don’t want any information’…Groups of young people would walk by, speeding up to pass us to avoid any interaction. I am amazed at the apathy, the desire to plead ignorance, to not want to learn about what our country promotes using our tax dollars. To not even show a tiny bit of interest in such an act of cruelty and violence is appalling to me. This head-in- the-sand attitude that affects so many gets me down on occasions like these.
What are you so afraid of people? ‘Ignorance is bliss’ so they say…Everyone is so caught up in their own little ego bubbles, their blackberry conversations, their lattes and fur trimmed coats…Look around you, engage in your city and its diversity…wake up!!
I was also disillusioned by the no show of animal rights activists today. According to the facebook page that had organized this event ( thank you Susan ) , over 80 people had said they’d attend…I think maybe 10 showed up? Was it inconvenient? Too cold? Do you feel that by saying you’ll attend that’s doing enough? I don’t get it….
Well, at the end of the day, I felt we made an impact in our own small way. We were visible, politely vocal and we did manage to get some signatures for our anti seal hunt campaign and we did manage to hand out a good number of flyers. Thank you for those activists who showed up and thank you for those Torontonians who were open to learning….
photo courtesy of Susan Morris